Audience Insights Table of Contents

GOODSPEED MUSICALS AUDIENCE INSIGHTS TABLE OF CONTENTS THE ROAR OF THE Character & Show Synopsis........................................................................................3 GREASEPAINT - THE SMELL OF THE CROWD Meet the Writers.............................................................................................................4 The Goodspeed May 20 - June 26, 2016 Director's Vision...............................................................................................................6 _________ Book, Music and Lyrics by Behind the Scenes: Costume Design......................................................................7 LESLIE BRICUSSE & In Conversation...............................................................................................................8 ANTHONY NEWLEY Interesting Facts...........................................................................................................11 Lighting Design by Resources........................................................................................................................11 STEPHEN TERRY Costume Design by JESS GOLDSTEIN Scenic Design by WALT SPANGLER Music Direction by ADAM SOUZA Music Supervisor and Arranger MICHAEL O'FLAHERTY Choreographed by ALEX SANCHEZ Directed by DON STEPHENSON Goodspeed’s Audience Insights can be found on our website: www.goodspeed.org/guides Executive Director MICHAEL GENNARO Audience Insights for The Roar of the Greasepaint was prepared by: Joshua S. Ritter, M.F.A, Education Manager & Library Director Katherine Desjardins, Creative Content Manager Audience Insights updated 05.06.16 2 CHARACTER & SHOW SYNOPSIS In a world turned upside down, a rag-tag group relies on humor, song THE CHARACTERS and dance to try to build a new life. The curtain rises on Sir and Cocky as they discover a suitable area to play “The Game,” but we soon learn SIR: Makes the rules of the game. He is that the overbearing Sir holds all the cards. Sir’s station in life compels stuffy and full of himself; he abuses his him to express his joy (“A Wonderful Day Like Today”). Sir extols tradition self-proclaimed importance and takes and the rules that make the game function while Kid lays out Sir’s lunch. advantage of the weak. Cocky hopes to play the game to win some bread to assuage his terrible hunger. Sir and Cocky flip a coin to see who will make the first move (It COCKY: A beaten down follower when the Isn’t Enough). Sir consistently changes the rules of the game to ensure that show begins. Cocky is a young man with a he retains his advantage over Cocky. During halftime, Cocky steals a bit of great deal of potential despite his difficult bread and Sir scolds him. circumstances. He has romantic feelings for The Kid. Then, Sir communicates to Kid the most important things to remember as one travels the highway of life (“Things to Remember”). Next, Sir asks THE KID: Does whatever plays into her Cocky to record the latest restrictive rules in the book (“Put It in The favor, a survivor, enjoys the social game Book”). Starving and fed up with the game, Cocky requests not to play and is happy to use her sexuality, brains anymore and Kid interviews him for a job (“This Dream”). Cocky ends up and sense of humor to win Sir’s favor. The playing the game for a living and Sir continues to make up absurd rules Kid has a romantic investment in Cocky that penalize Cocky. Sir reminds Cocky that he could not live without his friendship, courage, fearlessness, faith and strength (“Where Would You THE STRANGER: Comes into this world Be Without Me”). Again, Cocky is disheartened and he requests to stop and turns things upside down. playing the game. However, Sir attempts to build up Cocky’s confidence by complementing him (“Look at That Face”). Sir entertains Cocky’s fantasies and crowns him King in a mock ceremony. Meanwhile, Cocky spies the girl of his dreams (“My First Love Song”). The game ensues and Cocky realizes that Sir controls the girl of his dreams (Kid) with his wealth and power (“The Joker”). Kid places a straw dummy dressed as Sir in Cocky’s view and Sir taunts Cocky suggesting that he has been intimate with Kid. Sir claims the dummy is his brother, Bertie. Overcome with anger, Cocky strangles the dummy. Then, Sir and Kid accuse Cocky of murdering the dummy. Sir threatens to call the police and his power over Cocky grows. In desperation, Cocky feels completely alone (“Who Can I Turn To?”). Goodspeed’s Audience Insights can be found on our website: The second act begins with Sir in feigned mourning www.goodspeed.org/guides over the death of his brother, Bertie the dummy (“Funny Funeral”). Kid expresses the pleasure of being alive and young (“That’s What It Is to Be Audience Insights for The Roar of the Greasepaint was prepared by: Young”). Sir forgives Cocky for murdering Bertie Joshua S. Ritter, M.F.A, Education Manager & Library Director and Cocky mockingly praises Sir (“What A Man!”). The Stranger enters and plays the game. He flaunts the rules and wins Michelle Aravena (The Kid), Gregory Treco (The Katherine Desjardins, Creative Content Manager the bread at the center of the circle (“Feeling Good”). Cocky makes new Stranger), Tony Sheldon (Sir), and Caesar Samayoa demands of Sir and plays the game once more. Finally, Cocky beats Sir at (Cocky) in Goodspeed's The Roar of the Greasepaint the game entering the center of the circle (“Nothing Can Stop Me Now”). - The Smell of the Crowd. ©EMMA Cocky plays again and runs off with Kid (“Things to Remember“ Reprise). Cocky and Kid return and Cocky begins to assert his new power over Sir (“My Way”). Kid also defies Sir by ignoring his commands (“Who Can I Turn To” Reprise). Cocky states that they are going to start a new game despite Sir’s protests (“Sweet Beginning”). Cocky, Kid, and Sir set off together toward a brighter future. 2 3 MEET THE WRITERS LESLIE BRICUSSE Double Oscar and Grammy winner Leslie Bricusse is a writer- composer-lyricist who has contributed to many musical films and plays during his career. He was born in 1931 in London, and educated at University College School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. His stage musicals include Stop The World - I Want To Get Off; The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd; Pickwick; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; Scrooge; Jekyll and Hyde; Noah’s Ark; Cyrano de Bergerac; Kennedy; and Victor/Victoria. He has written songs and/or screenplays for such films as Doctor Dolittle; Scrooge; Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; Superman; Victor/Victoria; Home Alone I and II; Hook; Goldfinger; You Only Live Twice; The Last Emperor; and various Pink Panther. Bricusse has written more than forty musical shows and films, and over the years has had the good fortune to enjoy fruitful collaborations with a wonderful array of musical talents, including Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini, John Williams, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, Jule Styne, Quincy Jones, Andre Previn, Frank Wildhorn, and Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky. He is one of very few people in the world of stage and screen musicals Leslie Bricusse who contribute all three creative elements—book, music and lyrics—to a show or film, a feat he has achieved some 25 times. He has also written words and music (but not the book) or book and Iyrics (but not the music) to a further dozen projects in his various collaborations. CLICK HERE to He has been nominated for ten Oscars, nine Grammys, and four Tonys, and has won two watch an interview Oscars, a Grammy, and eight Ivor Novello Awards, the premiere British Music Award. In with Leslie Bricusse 1989, he received the Kennedy Award for Consistent Excellence in British Songwriting, https://www.youtube.com/ bestowed by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, and was watch?v=b9uGjowhlfo inducted into the American Songwriters’ Hall of Fame—only the fourth Englishman to be so honored. Current projects include Pure Imagination. Bricusse’s songbook show containing 60 songs from 60 years of stage & screen songwriting, as well as the most ambitious project of his career: a lyrical adaptation of the instrumental works of George Gershwin (“Rhapsody In Blue," “An American In Paris,” “Cuban Overture” and “Concerto In F") entitled A Few Words With George. Bricusse plans to combine a world premiere concert in London with an all- star recording of the work. Leslie Bricusse currently lives in California. He continues to produce hit musicals like the 1995 production Victor/Victoria and the 1997 Broadway smash Jekyll & Hyde. 4 ANTHONY NEWLEY (1931-1999) was born George Anthony Newley in Hackney, London in 1931. His personal hit parade includes numerous film and stage musicals. He was nominated for 6 Tony Awards as an actor or composer, and one Oscar for Best Score. Newley's beginnings in the entertainment industry go back to his start as a child actor the age of 14. He won the title role in the film The Adventures of Dusty Bates. The following year (1948), he starred in Peter Ustinov’s film Vice Versa and then as the Artful Dodger in David Lean’s classic production of Oliver Twist. By the mid-1950s, Newley was well-known throughout the world as an actor and in 1957 he starred in six major films. His singing career began with a 1959 film Idle on Parade, in which he performed four of his own songs that would later become Billboard hits. As an actor, he also enjoyed important successes in such films as Dr. Dolittle and Sweet November. In 1961, songwriter Leslie Bricusse suggested to Newley that they write a show together. The product was the successful Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, which starred Anthony Newley and was directed by Newley. The show ran on Broadway for 556 performances and several of its songs ("What Kind of Fool Am I?,” “Once In a Lifetime” and “Gonna Build a Mountain”) became hit singles. Bricusse and Newley teamed again to write the score to the James Bond film Goldfinger. Then in 1965 the team produced The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, again starring Newley.

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